| 4th April 1832 Last Will of John O’Sullivan Husband of Mary Landers | From records of Notary Benjamin Lelievre No. 64 Quebec Archives Film #4MO1-4419 |
On this day the fourth of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two in the afternoon, before us the undersigned notaries Public duly admitted and sworn for and of the Province of Lower Canada residing at the city of Quebec personally came and appeared John Sullivan of the Parish of Ste. Catherine, Seigniory of Fossambault, Farmer, being in good health and sound of mind, memory, and understanding as appeared to us said notaries by his action and words, for the purpose of these presents came in the office of Benjamin Lelièvre, one of the undersigned notaries, where his colleague was duly called.
Which said John Sullivan considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the hour thereof, doth make, publish, declare, and dictate to the said Benjamin Lelièvre, his colleague notary being present, his last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say,
The said John Sullivan recommends his soul to God, his Creator, when it shall please him to dissolve his mortal body hoping for a free pardon and remission of all his sins, through the intercession of his blessed son, our Saviour, and desires that his body be buried at the discretion of his executor herein after named.-
The said John Sullivan directs that all and every of just and lawful debts be paid.
The said John Sullivan doth give and bequeath all each and every his lands, goods, merchandise real or personal, estates, sum and sums of money or otherwise without any reserve, restrictions, or limitation whatever and wherever the same may be found whether in the Province of Lower Canada or elsewhere unto Mary Landers, his dearly beloved wife. The said Mary Landers to have, hold, use enjoy the said lands, goods, merchandise real or personal estates, sum and sums of money as aforesaid during her the said Mary Landers natural life only. And as to the property of all each and every the said lands, goods, merchandise real or personal, estates, sum and sums of money, or otherwise, without any reserve, restriction or limitation and wherever the same may be found as aforesaid, the said John Sullivan doth give and bequeath the same in full property unto Catherine Sullivan and Marguerite Sullivan, his daughters, issue of his marriage with his said wife, Mary Landers, whom he doth hereby make and constitute his universal Legatee, and to be fairly and equally divided between them, the said Catherine Sullivan and Marguerite Sullivan.
This present gift and bequeath nevertheless so made to the said Catherine Sullivan and Marguerite Sullivan, his said daughters, at and under the following limitation, restriction & provision, That is to say, at the charge of Catherine Sullivan and Marguerite Sullivan of paying jointly unto John Power and Mary Power, grandchildren of the said John Sullivan the sum of twenty pounds current money unto each of the said grandchildren above named. And this as soon as the said grandchildren will attain their respective ages of majority – and further to pay unto Owen Sullivan his son the sum of one shillings sterling and this so soon as they shall become in possession of the said land, goods, and merchandise.
And the said John Sullivan doth hereby nominate and appoint Executor to this his last will and testament the said Mary Landers his said wife, hereby annulling, cancelling, abrogating, and making void all former will or wills by him the said John Sullivan which may have been heretofore made and executed.
Thus done, made, dictated and named word by word by the said John Sullivan to Benjamin Lelièvre at Quebec the day and year aforesaid above written and the present last will and testament having been read to the said John Sullivan which he declared well to understand as being his last will and meaning, hath together with us said notaries set and subscribed his name and signature, after reading and re-reading thereof as aforesaid.
Fifty six words erased are null and four marginal notes approved are good.
Signed:
John Sullivan, his signature
G.B. Goudie, his signature
Benj. Lelièvre, his signature
[Translated and transcribed by Gerry Neville]
Notes by Patricia Balkcom: John died eight years later in 1840 at the reported age of sixty-six.